Icon of St. Xenia of Saint Petersburg - 21st c. - 00STXP01

Feast Day/Commemorated: January 24

Saint Xenia Grigorievna Petrova, an eighteenth-century Russian saint, embarked on an extraordinary path of "foolishness for Christ" after the sudden death of her husband, Major Andrew Petrov, when she was just twenty-six. Deeply grieved by his unconfessed passing, Xenia renounced worldly attachments. She began wearing her late husband's uniform, insisting on being called "Andrew Feodorovich," signifying her spiritual death to her former life. She gave away all her possessions, leading concerned relatives to involve authorities, who ultimately affirmed her sound mind and right to dispose of her property. Left without earthly belongings, she became a wanderer in the poor sections of Saint Petersburg, embracing a life free from material concerns.

For eight years, Saint Xenia left Petersburg, believed to have sought spiritual guidance from holy Elders and ascetics across Russia, potentially influenced by Saint Theodore of Sanaxar, whose own conversion was spurred by a young officer's death at a party—perhaps even Xenia's husband. Upon her return to Petersburg, she endured mockery and insults for her unusual behavior. She only accepted small monetary donations, which she immediately used to aid the poor. Her nights were spent in prayer in a field outside the city, where her profound spiritual conversation with the Lord sustained her through her arduous asceticism. She also secretly contributed by carrying bricks at night for the construction of a new church in the Smolensk cemetery.

Over time, Saint Xenia's remarkable virtue and spiritual gifts became undeniably evident. She began to prophesy future events, even those concerning the royal family of Petersburg. Despite her humility, she gained widespread recognition as a person pleasing to God, earning the love and respect of nearly everyone who recognized her profound spiritual dedication. Her visits to homes and shops were considered a divine blessing, and mothers especially rejoiced when the childless widow would pray over or kiss their babies, believing her touch would bring good fortune to the children.

Saint Xenia lived for approximately forty-five years after her husband's death, departing to the Lord around the age of seventy-one, likely at the end of the eighteenth century. She was laid to rest in the Smolensk cemetery, the same place where she had secretly toiled for the church's construction. Her spiritual legacy quickly grew, and by the 1820s, her grave became a pilgrimage site. So many faithful visitors took earth from her tomb for blessings that it had to be regularly replenished, leading to the eventual construction of a chapel over her resting place, a testament to her widespread veneration.

To this day, Saint Xenia of Petersburg is a beloved intercessor in Orthodox tradition. Countless individuals who turn to her in prayer report receiving healing from illnesses and deliverance from various afflictions. She is particularly renowned for her compassionate assistance to those seeking employment, underscoring her continued spiritual presence and miraculous intervention in the lives of the faithful. Her life remains an enduring example of radical devotion to Christ and selfless love for humanity, transcending earthly comforts for heavenly gain.

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